SAGE (Supporting Academic Goals for Education) is a Student Support Services TRIO grant program funded through the Department of Education. SAGE is located on the third floor of Thompson Hall in Room 257.
Our hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm., and Friday, 8:00 am to 3:00 pm.

The contents of this video were developed under a grant from the Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

This statement is in keeping with EDGAR Sec. 75.620

Objectives and Outcomes

Supporting Academic Goals for Education (SAGE) is a Student Support Services federal grant funded TRiO program that began at Wilkes Community College in 1979. The purpose of this program is to provide academic support services to increase the college success rates of its participants. Participants must be first-generation college, low income, and/or students with disabilities. All participants must have a need for academic support.

The most popular SAGE services are tutoring and peer facilitated study groups. For 2013-2014 SAGE provided 2398 hours of tutoring and group study to 109 students (unduplicated head count) at a cost of $10.37 per hour or $228.14 per student for a total of $24,876. SAGE also awarded scholarships to 36 eligible participants totaling $31,000.

The objectives listed below are set by the Department of Education. The results are tabulated and reported to the Department of Education annually. SAGE submitted its 2013-2014 Annual Performance Report on November 14, 2014 with the following data.

Number Funded to Serve: In 2013-2014 SAGE was funded to serve 175 participants, with the following Department of Education requirements. Of all participants served 66% must be first generation and low income, and 33% of participants with disabilities must also be low income.

Number Served: 176 participants served or 100% of the objective was met.

First generation and low income students = 148/176 or 84%; and disabled and low income students = 6/9 or 67%

Objective #1- Persistence Rate: 62% of all participants served by the project will persist from the fall of 2013 to the fall of 2014, or graduate and/or transfer from a 2-year to a 4-year institution during the 2013-14 academic year.

Objective #2- Good Academic Standing Rate: 90% of all participants served by the project
will meet the performance level required to stay in good academic standing at the grantee institution. (WCC defines good academic standing as a cumulative GPA of 2.0)

RESULTS: 95% were in Good Academic Standing - 168/176 participants were in good academic standing with an average cumulative GPA of all 176 participants equaling 3.11.

Objective #3- Graduation Rate: 38% of the students who joined SAGE in 2010-11 will graduate with a certificate, diploma, or associate degree within four years, or by the end of 2013-14.

RESULTS: 64% graduated within four years - 49/77 students from the 2010-11 cohort graduated by the end of 2013-14 with associate degrees, diplomas or certificates.

Objective #4- Graduation and Transfer Rate: 11% of the students who joined SAGE in 20010-11
will graduate and transfer to a 4-year institution by the end of 2013-14.

RESULTS: 40% graduated and transferred within four years - or 31/77 students from the 2010-11
cohort graduated and transferred by the end of 2013-14.

Eligibility

SAGE is one of the federal TRiO programs funded through a grant by the U.S. Department of Education, whose purpose is to increase the retention, graduation, and transfer rates of its members. We are funded to offer free academic support services to 175 eligible members. The SAGE staff is committed to advising, guiding, and providing necessary information and resources to assist SAGE members in achieving their academic, career and personal goals. An eligible member is a full-time WCC student who has a need for academic support and who:

1) is a first generation college student (meaning neither parent has a 4-year degree),

2) qualifies as income-eligible

3) has a documented disability.

The Department of Education established the criteria for membership in SAGE to encourage and assist students who are traditionally under-represented in post-secondary education.

Active MembershipAfter enrolling in SAGE, a student attends three meetings each semester which are necessary to maintain membership: a check-in meeting, a progress report meeting and goal check-in meeting. Attending these meetings are a great way to make sure the student is succeeding and has the information and resources necessary to succeed. Maintaining the status as an active member is necessary to continue receiving services the next academic year and to be eligible for the SAGE Grant Aid scholarship (other eligibility requirements apply). An active member is defined as a full time student making academic progress and participating in at least three SAGE services or activities per semester.

SAGE Grant Aid ScholarshipThe SAGE Grant Aid Scholarship is awarded in the fall and spring semesters. To be eligible to receive the scholarship, a SAGE member must have attended the three meetings each semester listed above and be an active member as defined above. The SAGE member must also be receiving the Pell Grant, have a GPA of 2.0 or higher, making academic progress and have completed the modules in the SAGE Financial Literacy Moodle class. The SAGE staff meets as a committee and ranks members based on a rubric, which is printed on the scholarship application. Scholarship awards are made mid-semester.